Knicks will rest Amar’e Stoudemire and JR Smith for 3 preseason games

In the midst of earlier reports that indicated head coach Mike Woodson’s possible move to a “big” starting lineup, the New York Knicks have announced that three of their players, including two of their “stars” will be missing in action for the first trio of preseason games.

Woodson’s announcement doesn’t come as too much of a surprise, as both JR Smith and Amar’e Stoudemire have serious injury concerns of differing origins. Smith had off-season knee surgery (that he famously waited a very long time on), and Stoudemire has a checkered injury past that has resulted in his massive contract famously being signed despite being uninsured for the team.

The third player in question, Jeremy Tyler, was an early scratch from training camp after being diagnosed with a foot issue that would cost him 8-10 weeks. However, there is (understandably) much more concern about Smith and Stoudemire, as the Knicks proceed toward the start of the season.

Neither player is cast in a “starting” role for the team, but both guys unquestionably make up a portion of New York’s plans for crunch time, and Smith has served as the “Robin” to Carmelo Anthony’s “Batman” in recent times. It’s too early to glean much from this announcement, but it’s certainly an indication that the Knicks plan to be extremely careful with these two knees.